The financial exactions indeed became light as John filled his treasury with the goods of the Church; the king's vigour was seen in the rapidity with which he crushed a rising of the nobles in Ireland, and foiled an outbreak of the Welsh; while the triumphs of his father had taught the baronage its weakness in any single-handed struggle against the Crown.

Hated therefore as he was the land remained still.

Only one weapon was now left in Innocent's hands.

Men held then that a king, once excommunicate, ceased to be a Christian or to have any claims on the obedience of Christian subjects.

As spiritual heads of Christendom, the Popes had ere now asserted their right to remove such a ruler from his throne and to give it to a worthier than he; and it was this right which Innocent at last felt himself driven to exercise.